Population figures
Total country population
119,106,224
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
932
Asylum-seekers:
1,307
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
119,062
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
16
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
126,228
Country context
The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, comprising 7,641 islands spread between Taiwan and Borneo and bounded by the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east and the Celebes Sea to the south. Refugees and asylum seekers in the Philippines represent diverse nationalities—among them Iranian, Syrian, Palestinian, Pakistani and Somali origins—and reside predominantly in urban centres without the establishment of formal camps or settlements.
International protection is founded on the Philippines’ accession to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol in 1981, as well as its early signature of the 1954 Statelessness Convention in 2011; it has not yet acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Statelessness prevention has been advanced through a National Action Plan to End Statelessness by 2024, adopted in 2015, which focuses on universal birth registration, procedural guidelines for late registration, initiatives to confirm citizenship of persons of Indonesian descent and Sama Bajau communities, and exploration of accession to the 1961 Convention
...Domestically, the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 contains provisions on the admissibility and protection of refugees and stateless persons, while the 1987 Family Code provides documentation requirements for refugees and stateless persons seeking to marry, and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 authorizes issuance of travel documents in lieu of national passports to recognized refugees and stateless persons. In August 2024, a legislative initiative was introduced proposing a comprehensive framework to institutionalize status determination procedures, delineate rights and obligations under the 1951 and 1954 instruments, and expand dedicated protection structures and resources.
While refugees have the right to education, barriers such as limited availability of school vacancies, transportation costs, and visa challenges hinder their full participation. Health services, particularly during the pandemic, remain a priority, with refugees often facing challenges in accessing necessary care. Financial inclusion remains limited, with many unable to access banking services, further complicating their economic integration.
Protracted internal displacement, exacerbated by armed conflict and natural disasters, remains a significant issue. Legislative developments, including the enactment of local ordinances and national laws to protect IDPs, are ongoing, but substantial challenges remain.
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